Shelby pro offers sight-fishing tips

Published: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 12:26 a.m.

When FLW pro Bryan Thrift of Shelby gave his seminar in February at the Central Carolina Boat & Fishing Expo in Greensboro, he was looking ahead to the spawning season.

Thrift talked about sight-fishing which takes place from April into early May when the largemouth bass move shallow to spawn.

During the spawn, the fish are more interested in child-rearing than they are in feeding, so bites for fishermen become scarce. Fishermen can provoke some strikes by sight-fishing; that is, they scan the shallows using polarized glasses until they spy fish on their beds. Then they attempt to irritate the fish into striking by tossing small plastics and jigs.

Sometimes the fish simply swim away; at other times, they keep returning to their nests. Others are "locked on" to their nests. The ones that swim away can't be caught; the others might take a bait that passes by them repeatedly.

Thrift said modern day tackle has eliminated the need for heavy gear and "cross-their-eyes" hooksets related to sight-fishing. Thrift uses braided line with a leader of 17-to 20-pound-test fluorocarbon line.

"There's no stretch with fluorocarbon line so a firm hookset is possible with light-action rods instead of the broom sticks of yesteryears," said Thrift, who uses a medium-action 6' 9" rod.

Thrift employs a 4-inch Damiki Air Craw, a soft-bodied plastic crawfish with air pockets in its claws to make the lure stand vertically as if in a defensive posture that entices bass into striking. A slight shake of the rod stands the bait up vertically.

"The soft plastic also helps the angler bury the hook in the fish," said Thrift.

Thrift uses two basic colors for sight-fishing, either a natural-looking pearl white hue or a dark hue like blue/black. His first choice is the pearl white because he can see it better.

"When the pearl bait disappears from view, I know a fish has taken the bait," said Thrift.

Thrift uses another rig for reluctant bass. He employs a 1/8-ounce Shaky-head jig in conjunction with a 3-inch Air Craw and casts it with spinning tackle. He prefers a screw-lock jig model to keep the plastic bait from sliding down the hook.

This rig is effective for sight-fishing and for catching finicky bass under docks. Its small profile enables Thrift to flip the bait into the smallest crevices and far under floating docks.

Thrift's final tip involves downsizing to 10-or 12-pound-test line if the bite remains slow.

"A lot of fishermen fear losing big fish with light line, but at least you have a chance if you get the fish to bite," said Thrift. "If the fish never bites, you have no chance at all."

Some sight-fishing takes place at High Rock in the clearer sections of Abbotts and Flat Swamp creeks, but the lake's stained waters prevent it from being a good sight-fishing lake. Top sight-fishing waters include lakes Badin, Tillery, Norman, and Hickory.

Fishermen have expressed a concern about a bill to increase boat registration fees to offset inlet dredging costs.

The bill is only a proposal as is the game-status bill which is a proposal to use a percentage of marine fuel tax to pay for dredging.

"Bills are only proposals that must be voted upon and passed by the General Assembly, then signed by the governor before becoming law," said Craig Holt of North Carolina Sportsman magazine. "When either happens, I'll write about it."

Holt writes "Backlashes" for the magazine where he comments upon proposed legislation that affects sportsmen.

Lexington's Chris Baldwin placed 22nd with 28-00 and won $1,221 at the April 25-27 Everstart Series Northern Division tournament at Smith Mountain Lake, Va.

Jason Threadgill of Norwood and Scott Threadgill of Troy won Saturday's CATT Yadkin Division tournament at Badin Lake with 17.45 pounds and received $800.

Derek Crumbley of High Point and Calvin McCaskill of Thomasville ranked third with 16.70 pounds and shared $200. Chris Chimiak of Winston-Salem and Scott Shannon captured the fourth-place prize of $166 with 16.35.

Terry James of Wadesboro and Alan Griffin of Polkton took the big-fish prize of $154 with a 5.35-pound bass.

<p>When FLW pro Bryan Thrift of Shelby gave his seminar in February at the Central Carolina Boat & Fishing Expo in Greensboro, he was looking ahead to the spawning season.</p><p>Thrift talked about sight-fishing which takes place from April into early May when the largemouth bass move shallow to spawn.</p><p>During the spawn, the fish are more interested in child-rearing than they are in feeding, so bites for fishermen become scarce. Fishermen can provoke some strikes by sight-fishing; that is, they scan the shallows using polarized glasses until they spy fish on their beds. Then they attempt to irritate the fish into striking by tossing small plastics and jigs. </p><p>Sometimes the fish simply swim away; at other times, they keep returning to their nests. Others are "locked on" to their nests. The ones that swim away can't be caught; the others might take a bait that passes by them repeatedly.</p><p>Thrift said modern day tackle has eliminated the need for heavy gear and "cross-their-eyes" hooksets related to sight-fishing. Thrift uses braided line with a leader of 17-to 20-pound-test fluorocarbon line. </p><p>"There's no stretch with fluorocarbon line so a firm hookset is possible with light-action rods instead of the broom sticks of yesteryears," said Thrift, who uses a medium-action 6' 9" rod.</p><p>Thrift employs a 4-inch Damiki Air Craw, a soft-bodied plastic crawfish with air pockets in its claws to make the lure stand vertically as if in a defensive posture that entices bass into striking. A slight shake of the rod stands the bait up vertically.</p><p>"The soft plastic also helps the angler bury the hook in the fish," said Thrift. </p><p>Thrift uses two basic colors for sight-fishing, either a natural-looking pearl white hue or a dark hue like blue/black. His first choice is the pearl white because he can see it better.</p><p>"When the pearl bait disappears from view, I know a fish has taken the bait," said Thrift.</p><p>Thrift uses another rig for reluctant bass. He employs a 1/8-ounce Shaky-head jig in conjunction with a 3-inch Air Craw and casts it with spinning tackle. He prefers a screw-lock jig model to keep the plastic bait from sliding down the hook.</p><p>This rig is effective for sight-fishing and for catching finicky bass under docks. Its small profile enables Thrift to flip the bait into the smallest crevices and far under floating docks.</p><p>Thrift's final tip involves downsizing to 10-or 12-pound-test line if the bite remains slow.</p><p>"A lot of fishermen fear losing big fish with light line, but at least you have a chance if you get the fish to bite," said Thrift. "If the fish never bites, you have no chance at all."</p><p>Some sight-fishing takes place at High Rock in the clearer sections of Abbotts and Flat Swamp creeks, but the lake's stained waters prevent it from being a good sight-fishing lake. Top sight-fishing waters include lakes Badin, Tillery, Norman, and Hickory.</p><p><B>Fishermen have expressed a concern about a bill to increase boat registration fees</B> to offset inlet dredging costs. </p><p>The bill is only a proposal as is the game-status bill which is a proposal to use a percentage of marine fuel tax to pay for dredging.</p><p>"Bills are only proposals that must be voted upon and passed by the General Assembly, then signed by the governor before becoming law," said Craig Holt of North Carolina Sportsman magazine. "When either happens, I'll write about it."</p><p>Holt writes "Backlashes" for the magazine where he comments upon proposed legislation that affects sportsmen. </p><p><B>Lexington's Chris Baldwin placed 22nd</B> with 28-00 and won $1,221 at the April 25-27 Everstart Series Northern Division tournament at Smith Mountain Lake, Va.</p><p>J<B>ason Threadgill of Norwood and Scott Threadgill of Troy</B> won Saturday's CATT Yadkin Division tournament at Badin Lake with 17.45 pounds and received $800.</p><p>Winston-Salem's Derek Tolley, fishing alone, placed second with 17.10 pounds and banked $300. </p><p>Derek Crumbley of High Point and Calvin McCaskill of Thomasville ranked third with 16.70 pounds and shared $200. Chris Chimiak of Winston-Salem and Scott Shannon captured the fourth-place prize of $166 with 16.35.</p><p>Terry James of Wadesboro and Alan Griffin of Polkton took the big-fish prize of $154 with a 5.35-pound bass.</p><p>Tony Garitta is a fishing columnist for The Dispatch</p>